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Obedience and Fellowship
1 Jn. 2:3-6
Introduction
The Lord Jesus is our Advocate or in simple term, defence attorney in heaven. At our present judicial
system here, there is a law called “the law of double jeopardy.” This law states that a person cannot
pay for the same crime twice. If Christ paid for our sins, then we do not have to pay for them. The
payment Christ did is once and for all. That is why God nullifies all Satan’s accusations against us.
God has already judged our sin on the cross. We are now declared righteous, forgiven, even called
saints! What a glorious, wonderful, and comforting truth to know that that we are saved and will go
to heaven when we die. But with this comes responsibility. Knowing the truth is not enough, we
must apply this truth in our lives. The word “know” (ginosko) means a knowledge that comes by
experience, by sharing experiences in life together. By this, we can say that “fellowship” (sharing,
communion) has taken place.

I. Obedience (1 Jn. 2:3)
A. An outward life of obedience to the Lord is proof of an inward relationship with Him.
It shows that we are personally acquainted with Him.
B. It is not just a “head” knowledge knowing about Him. It is an active devotion to Him
which truly seeks to obey Him and please Him in all things.
C. We should “walk” our “talk”, that is, we match our profession with practice. His
commands are not limited to the “Ten Commandments” written by God through
Moses, but to the commands of the Lord in the Gospels and in the letters or Epistles
to the churches as written in the New Testament.
D. The Lord Jesus Christ told us” If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” He taught us
how His people might be known by others. “By their fruits ye shall know them.”
E. How do we know that we know the Lord? How do we know whether we are in
fellowship with God? The answer can be seen by our sincere, honest, faithful, and
continuous walk with God.
F. To “keep His commandments” is to live in submission to Scripture. It is not a matter
of doing what the pastor says or what the church says but what the Bible says.
G. Obeying Scripture is not legalism but a responding to the known will of God in order
to please Him. “If God says it, that’s enough.” No more argument from the believer
in fellowship.
H. Some Biblical truths about obedience
1. We must obey God whole heartedly. Deuteronomy 26:16 This day the LORD thy
God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt
therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
2. Obedience is the key to Success. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart
out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou
mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
3. To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD
as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the
LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of
rams.
4. Obedience secures entrance into God’s kingdom. Matthew 7:21 Not everyone
that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
5. We are exhorted or commanded to obey. Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Illustration: King of England
I’ve read that when Edward VI, the king of England in the 16th century, attended a worship service,
he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during this time and later studied them
with great care. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life.
That’s the kind of serious-minded response to truth the apostle James calls for in today’s Scripture
reading. A single revealed fact cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth
than a head filled with lofty ideas about God. Source unknown

II. False Claim (1 Jn. 2:4)
A. Verse 4 tells us about false professors. People who are telling something they are
not.
B. The term “I know Him” are the false claim of people who says they fellowship with
God but in reality, does not respond to God nor obey His commandments.
C. Theirs is pseudo or counterfeit spirituality. They think that they know God and what
spirituality is but in reality, they do not. Their words are empty words.
D. The Pharisees and the Sadducees are good example of false professors. They are
hypocrites and self-righteous. They supplant the word of God with man-made
tradition for profit, self-advantage, and to win the praise of men. They are legalist
and perverts the truth of God’s Word.
E. They are liars who will receive God’s judgment. Liars have no place in heaven. Rev.
21:8

Illustration: The Abomination of Lying
Lying is at the bottom of a whole list of vices. As long as any man is willing to face the truth and to
confess it, there is hope of his recovery from sin. Always and everywhere “the truth will set you free”
(John 8:32). Men loathe the liar. God’s presence is not for him. The lake of fire is the liar’s doom.
A twelve-year-old boy was an important witness in a lawsuit. One of the lawyers, after crossexamining
him severely, said, “Your father has been telling you how to testify, hasn’t he?” “Yes,” said
the boy. “Now,” said the lawyer, “tell us how your father told you to testify.” “Well,” said the boy
modestly, “father told me the lawyers would try to entangle me in my testimony; but if I would just
be careful and tell the truth, I could tell the same thing every time.”
Needless to say, right prevailed, with that boy as witness of the truth.
Practical Bible Illustrations From Yesterday and Today.

III. Our Priority (1 Jn. 2:5-6)
A. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1
John 2:6)
B. The priority of the Christian’s life is to walk as Jesus Christ walked. The word abideth
means, “to stay in a given place, continue, dwell, endure, to remain, to stand, to
tarry.” Being a Christian is not a part-time deal. It is a consistent way of life.
C. We need to be realistic and to admit that no Christian will ever be perfect. We do
have a priority to walk as Christ walked. How did Christ walk? He walked in the will
of God. We see this grand truth in Jesus’ own words, … Father, if thou be willing,
remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42)
D. The priority of Christ’s life was to obey the perfect will of God. Jesus was able to
say,… for I do always those things that please him. What a testimony we would have
if we would simply set our hearts to love and do the will of God. When we walk as
Christ walked, in obedience to the Word and will of God, we please Him.

Illustration: Evidences of Abiding in Christ
1. Not Practicing Sin. (1 Jn. 3:6)
2. Keeping God’s Commandments. 1 John 3:24
3. Bearing Fruit. (John 15:5).
4. Loving Each Other. (1 John 2:10; 4:13).
5. Walking as Christ Walked. (1 John 2:6).
6. Continuing in Christ’s Word. (John 8:31)
7. Faithfulness to God’s Truth. (1 John 2:24, 2 John 9). (1000 Bible Study Outlines)

IV. Conclusion:
We must live in obedience to God’s Word to show that we really know Christ. The truth
that we know, we must apply it into our lives. If you really love the Lord, do as He say.
Will you obey Him?

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